Lewis Hamilton claims pole in Brazil as Vettel and Alonso lose ground

Lewis Hamilton has claimed pole for the curtain call of the Formula One season in Brazil, in what will be his final race as a McLaren driver, but it was a frustrating afternoon for title contenders
Sebastian Vettel and
Fernando Alonso.

Lewis Hamilton starts his final race for McLaren on pole position (Picture: Reuters/Action Images)

Englishman Hamilton said he wants to end his McLaren career on a high and he has given himself the best possible chance, as he starts tomorrow’s Brazilian Grand Prix in pole position, following his win in Texas last Sunday.Hamilton qualified ahead of team-mate Jenson Button in an all-McLaren front row, but title contenders Vettel and Alonso find themselves down the grid.Vettel, going for his third successive drivers’ championship tomorrow, qualified behind Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber in fourth and although he was left disappointed with his finish, the German will also be relieved to see rival Alonso down the pack in eighth.‘Q3 was not 100% perfect. It was not quick enough and I know I could have done a little better,’ said Vettel.‘I am keen to go back and look at the data and see where I was as I was not quick enough. All in all we are in good shape and we have been competitive and we will see what we can do tomorrow.’It is the second week running that Spaniard Alonso has been out-qualified by Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, who starts at Interlagos tomorrow from fifth position.Vettel takes a 13-point lead into the season finale, meaning Alonso needs to win with the Red Bull man ending the race outside the top four. If Alonso finishes second then Vettel must be below seventh and a third-place finish for the Ferrari driver will mean the reigning champion must finish lower than ninth to hand Alonso the title.Brazil qualifying top 10:Hamilton, Button, Webber, Vettel, Massa, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Raikkonen, Rosberg